Welcome to ‘Dance in Hertfordshire’, an introduction to how you could get into dance in Hertfordshire. It offers suggestions of how to find the nearest dance class and provides signposts for progressing in dance to a higher level.

Dance is a fun way for anyone to get the body and brain active, meet new people and to be creative, and we want more people to know how they can get involved.

To find dance providers near you, click on the ‘Creative Directory’ and select ‘dance’ in the ‘Organise by Discipline’ to take you to full listings of dance providers.

GETTING STARTED IN DANCE

Dance can be started at any age and dance based activities are available for those as young as 12 months. Dance for recreation is available through local dance schools and community facilities.

Dance in School:
Hertfordshire nursery, infant, junior, primary and special schools offer dance through the curriculum. Dance is part of the physical education programme of study at key stage 1 and 2.

Beyond School:
Dance organisations and dance artists across the county provide creative dance for toddlers.

Private dance schools offer ballet, tap, modern, street dance, ballroom among many other dance styles. Through many of these children can progress to get dance awards and certificates.

Getting involved in a dance workshop or project is a great way to try out different dance activities before joining a regular dance class. Local council arts officers, libraries, museums, theatres and professional dance company outreach programmes are just some of the people providing projects.

As well as taking part, going to see dance in a local festival or at a local theatre is a great introduction to dance.

NEXT STEPS IN DANCE

Dance can continue to be started at any age but for those looking to develop skills in dance training there are higher level courses on which to progress. Dance specific training is available through Further Education Colleges and vocational training schools.

Dance in School:
Dance continues to be learnt through the curriculum in Hertfordshire Secondary, Special Schools and Colleges and can be taken as a qualification in GCSE Dance, AS & A level Dance, BTEC level 2 & 3. Arts Awards. Many schools also offer out of hours dance clubs.

Beyond School:

Hertfordshire based and national organisations offer training courses to take dance to the next level including:
• youth dance companies
• local, regional and national dance platforms
• choreography
• dance leadership
• intensive technique development
• inclusive trainee programmes

For links to national programmes email carrie.washington@hertsmusicservice.org.uk

Private dance schools offer specialist training in many different dance styles that can be accredited and taken through different grades to higher levels.

HIGHER LEVEL TRAINING IN DANCE

For young people who have a talent for dance and the dream of taking to the stage there are vocational and more intensive dance specific training opportunities. Vocational training is a high level training preparing dancers for a professional dance career.

For vocational dance training there are specialist dance schools supported through the Department for Education Music and Dance Scheme. These schools provide young people with intensive dance training integrated with the regular academic studies. The Council for Dance Education and Training provides advice on vocational training and listings of accredited professional schools and colleges.

Nine Centres for Advanced Training (CAT) exist across the country to provide prevocational specialist dance training programmes that can provide supplement art dance training alongside a young person’s Secondary education and other regular dance training.

Talented young dancers can audition to be part of the National Youth Dance Company or the National Youth Ballet, companies that bring the best dancers together from across England.

ADVANCED TRAINING IN DANCE

Dance is a subject that can be taken to Higher Education bachelor’s degree, Masters and Doctoral status. Conservatoires and dance establishments provide intensive professional dancer training and apprenticeships provide an entry to a career in dance.

Degrees and postgraduate study courses in dance can be found through UCAS. Degree courses set people up for multiple different careers in dance that could include performer, choreographer, educator, manager, technician, marketing, fundraising and many more.

Conservatoire training is a publicly-funded higher education institution that offers professional dance education and training setting people up for entering into a career in dance. Conservatoire are also found and applied for through UCAS.

For those wanting to teach dance in Primary, Secondary or Special Schools there are dance specific Postgraduate Certificates in Education (PGCE) and School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) courses to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). To find out where this is offered in Hertfordshire use the online resource – Teach in Herts.

The Creative and Cultural Skills website provides information and support for finding employment in creative industries including apprenticeships.

GETTING STARTED IN DANCE
(Adults)

It is never to late to start dancing. Dance for all ages, abilities and health conditions are available throughout Hertfordshire.

Getting involved in a dance workshop or project is a great way to try out different dance activities before joining a regular dance class. Local sports centres, village halls, housing associations, council arts officers, libraries, museums, theatres and professional dance company outreach programmes are just some of the people providing projects.

As well as taking part, going to see dance in a local festival or at a local theatre is a great introduction to dance.